Braiding machine



Filed 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet Dec. 31, 1929. s. B. BLAISDELL Y ,7

- BRAIDING MACHINE Filed 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec 3l, 1929. s. B. BLAISD ELL v 1,

QBRAIDING MACHINE Fil 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 31, 1929. s, BLAlSDELL 1,742,126

BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1929 a Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 31, 1929. s. B. BLAISDELL BRAIDING MACHINE Fil 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 31, 1929.

s. B. BLAISDELL BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Dec. 31-, 1929. s. B. BLAISDELL 1,742,125

BRAIDING MACHINE Fil 1929 I 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 L fiweI iZbR m gs/wmw 9- 5.13. BLAISDELL 1,742,125

BRAiDINc- MACHINE File Fe 1, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet s W-$Mw 1 70 I -Eweroft Patented Dec, 315 1929' ATENT OFFICE,

SIDNEY B. BLAISDELL, or PHILADELPHIA,'PnNNsYnvANIA, Assreuoa TO FIDELITY v MACHINE ooMrAnY, or WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, a CORPORATION or DELA- WARE BRAIEDIN G MACHINE Application filedFebruary 1, 1929. Serial No. 336,730.

This invention relates'to an apparatus for "producing the improved type of braided packing, and the like, shown and described in my co-pending application for United States Letters Patent, filed October 25, 1928,

Serial No. 314.980.

1 The invention described in the above mentioned co-pending application relates particularly to that kind of braided'packing, which,

prior to my invention, was produced by making the packing in. a plurality of layers formed successively and disposed one around another,

until a packing of the desired weight and cross-sectional dnnens1onswas obtained.

The above process of manufacture was'necessarily slow, for the'reason that the format1on .of each superposed layer required the. passing or the product through a separatebraiding' operation. The packing thus formed had certain inherentundesirable features as set forth in the said co-pendmg'application.

The principal object of my present invention is to produce amachine by which a braid-' ed packing,'of any desired weight. or crosssectional dimensions may be manufactured in a single braiding operation, and which will form the completed packingin sucha manner that all the threads of which the packing is composed will be interlocked with each other within the center of the packing, thus producing asuperior article in considerably less time than has been possible heretoiore,

and obviating the objectionable features of the layer-built packing and the process by which such packing ismanufactured In forming the improved 'interbraided packing described in the said co-pendin'g application, I employ a pluralityof series of threads, each series being composed of a plurality of individual threads. Each series of threads constitutes a segmental section of the complete packing, in the cross -section'of' the packing, throughout. the length of the packing, and the threads of each series or seg-' mental section are inter-braided on the outer" A surface of the packing with the'thr'eads of the series or segmental section lying immediately adjacentthereto, thus theseveral segmental sections'overlap the-sections immediately adjacent thereto, and-all the threads areinterbraided on the exterior of the packing and interlocked with each other within the centerextent by introducing. at certain places within,'and running longitudinally of, the packing any desired number of core threads around wihch the threads of theseveral series are braided. In this manner the packing maybe caused to assume a round, square, rectangular, triangular or polygonal form in cross-section, depending upon the number,

disposition and relative weights of the respective core threads.

The construction of the article,the method I by which the article is manufactured, and the apparatus for producing the article, which forms the subject of my present invention will be fully disclosed in detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of

wh ch: p 0 Fig. 1 is an elevation, looklng 1n the threetion of arrow Z, Fig. 2, of a piece of packing made in accordance with the principles of any invention, with a portion cut away to show one thread of each of the series and the manner in which these threads of the several series are braided or interlaced with each other within the center of the packing;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional y View taken on. the line 2-2, Fig. 1, showing the packing in a somewhat expanded state,v

to illustrate clearly the manner in which the threads of each series or segmental sect-ion arebraided together on the outside surface of {the packing and howall the threads of all the series are interbraided within the center of the packing;

. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view somewhat similar to Fig.- 2, showing the method 'of braidingemploye'd, and how the threads of form ' tion Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of a piece of packing into which longitudinal core threads have been introduced to increase the weight and cross-sectional dimensions of the pac ing and to give the packing a substanv tially square cross-sectional form; v

Fig. 9 is a diagrammaticperspective view illustrating the disposition of the various braiding thread carriers, the paths traveled thereby, and the positions of the .core thread feeding tubes relative to the said paths of the braiding thread carriers;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the bobbin carrier platform;

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 1111, Fig. 10, showing several of the bobbin carriers in place on the platform;

Fig. 12 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 1212, Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a side View of one of the bobbin carrier's,.and

Fig. 14 is a rear view of the bobbin carrier shown in 13.

The packing illustrated in the drawings comprises four series of threads A, B, and D, respectively. 9 Each series comprises nine individual threads illustrated at a to a inclusive, 6

to b inclusive, 0 to c inclusive, and d to d inclusive.

The threads are individually carried by individual bobbin carriers of conventional form, such as illustrated at 1 in Figs. 11, 13

and 14. These bobbin carriers 1 are adapted to be moved over a special form of bobbin carrier supporting platform 2, which is illustrated in Fig. 10. This platform is applied to a conventional form of braiding machine, in the manner illustrated in 11. The bobbin carriers for the respective series of threads A,]3, C and D are respectively adapted for movement along the paths and in the directionsillustrated in Figs.'4 5, 6 and 7 respectively, causing the threads of series A tobe braided with the threads of the adjacent series B and adjacent series D on the outer surface of the packing; the threads of series B to be braided with the threads of adjacent series A and adjacent series C on the outer surface of the packing;

, the threads of series C to be braided with the threads of adjacent series B and adjacentseries D on the outer surface of the packing;

and the threads of -series D to be braided with the threads of adjacent series C and series B interlock on the outer face of the packing in'the manner indicated at A-B;

series B and'G asillustrated at B-C; se- I ries C and D as illustrated at CD; and series D'and A as illustrated at D-A.

. The path of travel of the threads of series A carriesthese hreads into the interior of the packing and eyond and around the azgial center X of the packing; series O which islocated diametrically opposite to series A also travels into the interior of the packing and beyond and around the axial centen X passing-through and interlocking with series A about the center X as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Series B and series D, like series A and C, are disposed diametrically opposite to each other at right angles tov series A and C, passing through each other about the center X in the same manner as series A and C and also passing through both of the said latter series A and C about the center X as illustrated. In this manner all the threads of all the series are interbraided with each other and intertwine with each other about the center X, forming a compact mass of intertwining threads within the center of the packing, assuming in actual practice closely contracting positions such as shown by the broken out portion of Fig. 1 of the'drawing.

As indicated in the several figures of the drawing, the paths traveled by alternate series during the braiding operation are in opposite directions, as shown by the arrows in Figs. 3 to 7 inclusive, thus the threads of series A and C follow what may be termed right hand irregular helical paths longitudinally of the packing, while the threads of series B and D follow left hand irregular helical paths longitudinally of the packing. The number of threads per series and the number of series in the packing determine the pitch of. the helical paths abovenoted and also determine the character of the braiding or weaving of the threads.

4 With nine threads per series and using four. series as above noted, the appearance of the of a twill weave, in which each diagonal- "ly disposed thread passes over two threads diagonally disposed in' an opposite direction and under the next two threads disposed in said opposite direction, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Obviously a change in the number of threads per series, "or in the number of series employed, or both, will produce a different twill, such. as over one and under one, or over one and under two, etc. Such changes, however, would be within the scope of the present invention.

The paths followed ;by the respective bobbin carriers 1, from which the'threads of the several series are drawn, consist of a number of arc segments connected end to end to form a continuous line of travel for the carriers belonging to each series, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 10. These are segments 3 are positioned around centers disposed in a predetermined relation to each other on the bobbin carrier supporting platform 2, the

said centers bearing the relationship illustrated in Figs. 3 and 10, inwhich the said centers are respectively indicated at to inclusive, and intermediate the paths of the several series are-formed spaces 26 to" 30 inelusive. i

Axially aligned with the centers 10 to 25 respectively and located in the spaces 26 to tional configuration of the packing may be changed to anything desired, such, for example, the square form illustrated in'Fig. 8, in which a core thread E is inserted in the space 26, a core thread F at the center 10, a core thread G at the center 13, a ,core thread H at the center 16, and a core thread T at the center 19. 7

It will be noted that the core threadsF and H are positioned diametrically opposite to each other and located on a line extending through the axial center X of the packing,

which lies within the center space 26, and the threads G and T are also positioned diametrically opposite to each other on a line extending through the axis X, the line on which the core threads F and H are located being disposed at right angles to the line on which the core threads G and T are located, thus describing the outline of a square, and consequently producing a substantially square packing.

By placing core threads at those centers and in those spaces; which having connecting lines drawn through them would describe a triangle, such for instance as the centers 10 and13 and the space 29, a triangular packing would be produced and so on through the various range of possible forms. I

Regardless of the positioning of the core threads each corethread will be tightly boundin place by the braiding threads of the several series as they pass between and around the braiding threads or adjacentseries and as they pass intothe center of the packing and therein intertwine with the-braiding threads of'all the series about the. axis of the packing.

As shown in Fig. 11, the bobbin carrier supporting platform 2 is supported above and in spaced relation with respect-to a plate 50,

which constitutes the main bed plate of con{ ventional form ofbraiding machine.

. In the cutting of the arcs 3, 3 to form the undulated and intertwining paths A B C and D in which the groups of bobbin carriers 1 which carry the threads a to a", b to b, 0 to 0 and d to d of the series A, B, C

and D respectively are adapted to move, the portions 10 to 30 of the plate 2 are completely disconnected from each other and from the rim portion 2of the plate 2. These disconnected portions 10 to 30 are. respectively supported and maintained in the correct relative position one to the other by the core tubes 10 to- 30 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 11;

As shown in Fig. 11, each of the core tubes 10 to 30 comprises a body portion 55, which is reduced in diameter at its opposite ends as indicated at 56 and 57 respectively, thereby forming shoulders 58 and 59 on the respective ends of each of the said core tubes. The reduced portions 56 and 57 respectively extend through openings60 and 61 formed in I the base plate 50 and inthe bobbin carrier supporting plate 2 respectively.

The reduced portions 56 and 57 are further reducedas indicated at 62 and 63 respectively. the latter reductions being externally threaded for the reception of securing nuts 64 and'65. which respectively bear against.

the lower face of the plate 50 and the upper face of the supported portion of the plate 2, thereby seating and rigidly, maintaining the said plates against the shoulders 59 and 60 of the core tubes. I

. As clearly shown in Fig. 11, each core tube is provided with an axially aligned passage or bore 66 through which a core thread is adapted to pass from a bobbin located under the bed plate 50 to the braiding point of the machine which is locatcd some distance above the bobbin carrier su iporting plate 2, as shown in. Fig. 9.'

' The rim portion 2 of the plate 2 is secured to and spaced apart from the bedplate 50 by means of bolts 67, as illustrated in Fig. 10.

The bolts 67 may be shouldered in the manner above noted, or a spacing sleeve maybe placed .around the bolt between the plates2 and 50 to maintain. the said plates in spaced relation one to the other. As indicated in Figs. 10 and 11'. certain of extensions 68in order to deliver the core thread passing therethrough in the plane above the tops of the bobbin carriers 1, to pre- -the core tubes. may be provided with tubular vent the said core L reads from becoming en tangled with the'said bobbin carriers. Rotatably mounted onrthe body portion 55 of each ofthe core tubes 10 to 25 inclusive is a gear wheel 10 to-25 inclusive. As shown in Fig. 10, the gears 10, 13, 16, 19 22, 23, 24 and 25 are of a greater diameter than the gears 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20 and 21.

.The gears having the larger diameter are each provided with a series of five equiangularly spaced and radially extending pairs of projections or horns 68, 68, and each. of the gears having the smaller diameter are provided with a series of four pairs of projections or horns 69, 69, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 12. These horns are adapted to engage lugs 70, 70 formed integral with and depending from the bases 71, 71 f the bobbin car-- riers 1.

The base 71 of each bobbin -carrier 1 comprises a pair of spaced plates 7 2 and 73 which are integrally connected by an elongated fin 74. The fins 74 extend through and ride in the slots formed in the late 2 which con-' stitute the paths A B 5 and D in which the bobbin carriers of-the respective series A to are adapted to travel during the braiding point of the machine which is located some.

distance above the plate 2, as shownin Fig. 9.

The braiding operation is carried on in the same general manner as the ordinary braiding operation with the exception that in place of each bobbin traveling completely around path where a change path occurs.

the bed plate of the machine its movement is confined to the segmental ath allotted to the particular series to whic the particular bobbin carrier belongs, these paths being clearly indicated in Figs. 4, 5, 6. 7 and 10. The bobbin-carriers are engaged by the projections or horns on the gears rotating about the centers 10 to 25 inclusive, and as the fin 74 of each bobbin carrier passes along'the path allotted to that particular series the horn of one gear'moves the depending projection of the bobbin carrier 1 into the proper position to be engaged by a horn of the gear meshing therewith, the transfer from one gear to the other taking place at thepoint along the of direction in the said As shown in Fig. 9, the braiding point Y of the machine is in substantially vertical alignment with the central core tube 26; and as shown in Fig. IO-this core tube 26 is located at above mentioned individual paths intersect at points"I;'and'these intersecting points are remotely situated with respectto the said coming located intermediate the remotely situated intersecting points I and the common point P, and the intersecting points I being located rather close to or adjacent the said common point P.

Also as shown in Fig. 10, the innermost portions of the respective individual paths passaround the common point P to the side thereof opposite to that occupied by the said outer portions of the respective paths.

I claim: I

1. In a braiding machine employing a plurality of thread carriers, a guide for said carriers describing a plurality of individual paths to be respectively traveled by different carriers,-said paths intersecting at points remotely situated; with respect to a common point on said guide and intersecting again adjacent said common point, said common point being disposed within each and all of said intersecting paths.

' 2. In a braiding machine em loying a plurality of thread carriers, a gui e for said carriers describing a plurality of individual paths to be respectively traveled by different carriers, said paths intersecting at points remotely situated with respect to a common point on said guide, passing around said common point, and intersectingagain adjacent said common point. I

3. In a braiding machihe' employing a plurality of thread carriers, 9. guide for said carriers describing a plurality of individual paths to be respectively traveled by different carriers, said paths intersecting at points remotely situated with respect to a common point on said guide and intersecting again at points intermediate said common point and the said remotely situated intersecting points, said common point being disposed within each andall of said intersecting aths.

4. In a braiding machine emp oying a plurality of thread carriers, a guide for said carriers describing a lurality of individual paths to be respective y traveled by difierent carriers, said paths intersecting at points'remotely situated with respect to a common point on said guide, passing around said common point, and intersecting again at points intermediate said common point and the said remotely situated intersecting points.

5. In abraiding machine employing a plurality of thread carriers, a guide forsaid carriers describing a plurality of individual paths to be respectively traveled by different carriers, said paths intersecting at points remotely situated with respect to a common point onsaid guide and intersecting again at points intermediate said common "point and the said remotely situated intersecting points, and again intersecting atpoints adjacent said common point, said common point being disposed within paths. j

6. In a braiding 'machine employingia plu each and all of said intersecting rality of thread carriers, a guide for said carriers describing a plurality of individual paths to be respectively traveled by different carriers, said paths intersecting at points re- I motely situated with respect to a common point on said guide and intersecting again at,

points intermediate said common point and the said remotely situated intersecting points, passing around said common point, and again intersecting at points adjacent said common point.

7 In a braiding machine employing a plurality of thread carriers, a guide for said carriers describing a plurality of individual paths to be respectively traveled by different carriers, said paths intersecting at points located around, and remotely situated With respect to a common point on said guide and inters'ccting again adjacent said common point,

said common point being disposed'vvithin each and allot said intersecting paths.

'8. In a braiding machine employing a plurality of thread carriers, a guide for said carriers describing a plurality of individual paths to be respectively traveled by diiierent carriers, said paths intersecting at points located around, and substantially equidistantly from, and remotely situated tvith re-- spe-ct to a'common point on said guide and intersecting again adjacent said common point, said common polnt being disposedintersecting again .adjacent said "common.

point, said common point being disposed Within each and. all of said intersecting paths.

10. In a braiding machine employing a plurality of thread carriers, a guide for said carriers describing a plurality of individual paths to be respectively traveled'by diiierent carriers, each path comprising a plurality'of undulations, the undulations of each I path being respectively located opposite to the respective undulations of another of said paths about centers. located respectively Within opposed pairs of said undulations, said' paths intersecting at points remotely situated with respect to a common point on said guide, and intersecting again adjacent said common point, and a core thread delivery tube located at said common point,

said common point being. disposed within each and all of said intersecting paths.

11. In a braiding machine employing a plurality ofthread carriers, a guide for said carriers describing a plurality of individual paths to be respectively traveled by difierent carriers, each path comprising a plurality of undulations, the undulations of each path being respectively located opposite to the respective undulations of another of said paths about centers located respectively vvit hin opposed pairs of said unduldtions. sald paths intersecting at points rcn otely situated with respect to a common point on said guide, and intersecting again adjacent said common point, and a core thread delivery tube located atpredetermincd ones of said centers, said common point being dis-. posed Within each and all of said intersecting paths.

12. In a braiding machine employing a' plurality of thread carriers a guide for said.

carriers describing a plurality of individual paths to be respectively traveled by diifcu ent carriers, each path comprising a plurality of undulations, the undulations of each path being respectively located opposite to the respective undulations of another of said paths about centers located respectively Within opposed pairs of said umhllations. said'paths intersecting at points remotely situated with respect to a common pointon said guide, and intersecting again adjacent said common point, and a core thread delivery tube located at each of smdcenters, said common point being disposed within each and all of said intersecting paths.

13. In a braiding machine employing a plurality of thread carriers, a guide for said carriers describing a plurality of individual paths to be respectively traveled by different carriers, each path comprising a plurality being respectively located opposite to the respective undulations of another of said paths about centers located respectively Within opposed pairs of said undulations, said paths intersecting at points remotely situated With respect to a common point on said guide, and intersecting again adjacent said common point, and core thread delivery tubes located at predetermined. points with in the saidpaths, said common point being disposed Within each and all of said-inter secting paths.

14. In a braiding machine employing a plurality of thread carriers, aguide for said of undulations the undulations of each path carriers describing a plurality of individual paths to be respectively traveled by diflerent carriers, each path comprising a plurality of undulations, the undulations of each path being respectively located opposite 'to the respective undulations of another of said paths about centers located respectively within opposed pairs of said undulations,

said paths intersecting at points remotely situated with respect to a common point on said guide, and intersecting again adjacent said common point, a core thread delivery tube located at said common oint, and a core thread delivery tube locate at each of a predetermined number of said centers said common point being disposed within each and all of said intersectin paths.

15. In a braiding machine employing a plurality of thread carriers, a guide for said carriers describing a plurality of individualpaths to be respectively traveled by different carriers, each path comprising a plurality of undulations, the undulations of each path being respectively located opposite to the respective undulations of another of said paths about centers located respectively within opposed pairs of said undulations, said paths intersecting at points remotely situated with res ect to a common point on said guide, an intersecting again adjacent said common point, a core thread delivery tube lo cated'at said common point, a core thread delivery tube located at each of a predetersaid paths, the carriers traveling 1n each respective path moving in a direction opposite mined number of said centers, and a core thread delivery tube located at each of a predetermined number of points located w thin the said paths and removed from said common point and said centers, said common point being disposed within each and all of said intersecting paths.

16. In a braiding machlne em loying a plurality of thread carriers, a gui e for said carriers describing a lurality of individual paths to be respectively traveled by different carriers, each path comprising a plurality of undulations, the undulations of each path being respectively located opposite to the respective undulations of another of said aths about centers located respectively with- 111 opposedpairs of said undulations, said paths intersecting at points remotely situ-.

JI S'P ated with 'respect to a common point on said guide, and intersecting again adjacent said commonpoint, and means rotatably mounted for movement about each of said centers and adapted to engage the respective carriers point, a core thread delivery tube located at each of said centers, gear wheels rotatably mounted on said core tubes respectively, and projections on said gear whee s adapted to engage said carriers and advance them along said paths, said common point being disposed within each and all of said intersecting p aths.

18. In a braiding machine em loying a plurality of thread carriers, a gui e for said carriers describing a luralit of individual paths to be respective y trave ed by different carriers, each path comprising a plurality of undulations, the undulations of each path being respectively located opposite to the respective undulations of another of said paths aboutcenters located respectively within oposed'pairs of said undulations, said paths intersecting at points remotely situated with respect to a common point on said guide, and intersecting again adjacent said common point, and means rotatably mounted for movement about each .of said centers and adapted to engage the respective carriers to the direction or movement of the carriers of the next adjacent path, said common point being disposed within each and all of said intersecting aths.

19. It? a raiding machine employlng a plurality of thread carriers, a guide for said carriers describing a pluralit ofindividual paths to be respectively trave ed by difierent carriers, said paths intersecting atpoints remotely situated with respect to a common point on said guide and intersecting again adjacent said commonpoint, said remotely situate d) points/of intersection being located substantially on a circle swung from said common point on said guide, said common point being disposed within each and all of saidintersecting pat SIDNEY B. BLAISDELL.

and thereby advance the said carriers along said paths, said common point being dissed zvhishm each and all of said interesect- 17. a braiding machine em loying a plurality of thread carriers, a guide for said carriers describing a plurality of individual paths to be respectively traveled by different carriers, each ath comprising a plurality of undulations, the undulations of each path being respectively located opposite to the reb spgctive undulations of another of said paths 9. ut centers located respectively within oposed pairs of said undulations, said paths intersecting at points remotely situated with respect to a common point/on said guide, and intersecting again adjacent said common 

